The spin given by Clydelink regarding the need …

The spin given by Clydelink regarding the need for the new timetable is rich when it suggests that the use of four ropes will be forced on ALL operators shortly by MCA. Who are we talking about(?) surely not Argyll Ferries and Western Ferries! The reality is that the Island Princess has been found wanting hence the safety edict from MCA.

Harry Cathcart also commented

My previous post should have referred to early morning commuters requiring to reach Glasgow before 9am. Also I omitted to state that the Piermaster is serving his redundancy notice!!

The “new” timetable means that all students or workers with the reasonable requirement to reach Glasgow before now need to catch the 07.12 sailing and then wait 23 minutes in Gourock station before boarding the 07.47 train. For over 30 years commuters were able to catch the 07.48 ferry and then catch the 08.08 train.

In the evening the last train is now 17.05 which makes commuting by ferry and train impossible.

All of this whatever the operator may aver relates to the unsuitability of the Island Princess to serve our community allied to the decision of Argyll Bute Council to make the Kilcreggan Piermaster.

The inevitable outcome of all of this will be a lack of passengers which will in due course allow officials to declare that the route is no longer viable when the irrefutable evidence is that the SPT decision was based purely on the lowest tender rather that ensuring an outcome beneficial to the communities in Inverclyde and Argyll and Bute requiring a safe and reliable service.

As late as 13th May 2013 the Trust spent our money incorporating Cove Wind Farm Limited and for what purpose!! Ironically Is it not conceivable that the Trust could be contemplating selling on the asset if they are aware that 100% funding cannot be secured, hence the need for the leases to be signed ahead of the Hearing.

One real issue and some strange arguments against Cove Community Wind FarmToo much emotion so far. Reasonable questions not answered by the development trust are:-
1 where is the finance to be found to pay for 100% of the huge cost
2 what interest rate is included in the financial appraisal
3 what contingency is included for increased costs which will be likely based on inflation increases which were 2.6% in 2012 (5’6% 2011), the weakness of the pound e.g. impacting on purchase price of turbines mainly built in Denmark , and likely general cost overruns in a venture of this size
4 is it realistic to expect the development to be completed by the crucial April 1 2014 date after which revenue take will implode
Worth mentioning that the development trust ( Murdo McDonald) has in the past wrongly taken credit for the takeover of the Cove Burgh Hall and Library as part of its campaign to reinforce its validity!

Jackie Baillie MSP calls on SPT to ‘get a grip’ on Kilcreggan ferry situationSPT has chosen to accept the operator’s version rather than that of the passengers. Presumably the pier master who is working out his extended notice will have witnessed this and sent in a report. Perhaps For Argyll can contact the council to ascertain what was in his report and if it corroborates the version given by the passengers ask what action the authority has taken to lodge a complaint with SPT and also to make the MCA aware of it’s concern for the safety of passengers. If no action is contemplated one can then ask the reason behind retaining the pier master for an extended period when the operator is not being charged the normal landing dues!

Kilcreggan Ferry: Inverclyde Now reports ‘new’ boat may not be ready by 1st AprilThe Island Princess was built in 1996 i.e. 16 years ago! It only has space in the cabin for between 35 to 40 passengers which leaves Coulport/Faslane commuters fighting for cover!! The contract was placed with Clydelink on an undertaking to provide accommodation in a “new” vessel for 60 passengers. In a Q and A from SPT this is stated to be in a thermostatically controlled heated passenger cabin with fare collection therein rather than on deck. This boat as can be seen from its picture has none of those features and is 23 feet shorter than the Seabus!!